Haiti

Broadcast media

several television stations, including 1 government-owned; cable TV subscription service is available; government-owned radio network; more than 250 private and community radio stations operating with about 50 FM stations in Port-au-Prince alone (2007)

Internet country code

.ht

Internet hosts

273 (2010) country comparison to the world: 185

Internet users

1 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 99

Telephone system

general assessment: telecommunications infrastructure is among the least developed in Latin America and the Caribbean; domestic facilities barely adequate; international facilities slightly better domestic: mobile-cellular telephone services are expanding rapidly due, in part, to the introduction of low-cost GSM phones; mobile-cellular teledensity reached 40 per 100 persons in 2009 international: country code - 509; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

50,000 (2010) country comparison to the world: 163

Telephones - mobile cellular

4 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 111

Agriculture - products

coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum; wood

Budget

revenues: $1.291 billion expenditures: $1.43 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17.5% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 17.3% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.102 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 -$626.6 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$504.1 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 164 $1.362 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

59.2 (2001) country comparison to the world: 8

Economy - overview

Haiti is a free market economy that enjoys the advantages of low labor costs and tariff-free access to the US for many of its exports. Poverty, corruption, and poor access to education for much of the population are among Haiti's most serious disadvantages. Over the longer term, Haiti needs to create jobs for its young workforce and to build institutional capacity. Haiti's economy suffered a severe setback when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake destroyed much of its capital city, Port-au-Prince, and neighboring areas in January 2010. Already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 80% of the population living under the poverty line and 54% in abject poverty, the damage to Port-au-Prince caused the country's GDP to contract an estimated 5.1% in 2010. Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the agricultural sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, and remain vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters, exacerbated by the country's widespread deforestation. US economic engagement under the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act, passed in December 2006, has boosted apparel exports and investment by providing duty-free access to the US. Congress voted in 2010 to extend the legislation until 2020 under the Haitian Economic Lift Act (HELP); the apparel sector accounts for three-quarters of Haitian exports and nearly one-tenth of GDP. Remittances are the primary source of foreign exchange, equaling nearly 20% of GDP and more than twice the earnings from exports. Haiti suffers from a lack of investment, partly because of limited infrastructure and a lack of security. In 2005, Haiti paid its arrears to the World Bank, paving the way for reengagement with the Bank. Haiti received debt forgiveness for over $1 billion through the Highly-Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative in mis-2009. The remainder of its outstanding external debt was cancelled by donor countries in early 2010 but has since risen to about $400 million. The government relies on formal international economic assistance for fiscal sustainability, with over half of its annual budget coming from outside sources.

Electricity - consumption

309 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Electricity - exports

NA kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - production

650 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Exchange rates

gourdes (HTG) per US dollar - 40.15 (2010) 42.02 (2009) 39.216 (2008) 37.138 (2007) 40.232 (2006)

Exports

$536.6 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 $551 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

apparel, manufactures, oils, cocoa, mangoes, coffee

Exports - partners

US 90.2%, Canada 4%, France 1.5% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.632 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$11.48 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 $12.09 billion (2009 est.) $11.75 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 25% industry: 16% services: 59% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 207 $1,200 (2009 est.) $1,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-5.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 212 2.9% (2009 est.) 0.8% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 47.7% (2001)

Imports

$2.778 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $2.032 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials

Imports - partners

US 51%, Dominican Republic 19%, China 11% (2010 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

-4.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Industries

textiles, sugar refining, flour milling, cement, light assembly based on imported parts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160 0% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

25% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Labor force

4.81 million country comparison to the world: 76 note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 38.1% industry: 11.5% services: 50.4% (2010)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Oil - consumption

12,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Oil - imports

13,480 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Population below poverty line

80% (2003 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.108 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 $789.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$3.269 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 $2.462 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.728 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 $1.664 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$833.1 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $784.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Unemployment rate

40.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 note: widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs

Area

total: 27,750 sq km country comparison to the world: 148 land: 27,560 sq km water: 190 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate

tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds

Coastline

1,771 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m

Environment - current issues

extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.99 cu km/yr (5%/1%/94%) per capita: 116 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

19 00 N, 72 25 W

Geography - note

shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

Irrigated land

920 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

total: 360 km border countries: Dominican Republic 360 km

Land use

arable land: 28.11% permanent crops: 11.53% other: 60.36% (2005)

Location

Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts

Natural resources

bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower

Terrain

mostly rough and mountainous

Total renewable water resources

14 cu km (2000)

Administrative divisions

10 departments (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est

Capital

name: Port-au-Prince geographic coordinates: 18 32 N, 72 20 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: no DST planned for 2011

Constitution

approved March 1987 note: suspended June 1988 with most articles reinstated March 1989; constitutional government ousted in a military coup in September 1991, although in October 1991 military government claimed to be observing the constitution; returned to constitutional rule in October 1994; constitution, while technically in force between 2004-2006, was not enforced; returned to constitutional rule in May 2006

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Haiti conventional short form: Haiti local long form: Republique d'Haiti/Repiblik d' Ayiti local short form: Haiti/Ayiti

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth H. MERTEN embassy: Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre, Port-au-Prince mailing address: use mailing address telephone: [509] 229-8000 FAX: [509] 229-8028

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Louis Harold JOSEPH chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090 FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Orlando (Florida)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Michel MARTELLY (since 14 May 2011) head of government: Prime Minister Garry CONILLE (since 18 October 2011) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 28 November 2010; runoff scheduled for 16 January 2011 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president, ratified by the National Assembly election results: Michel MARTELLY wins the runoff election held on 20 March 2011 with 67.6% of the vote against 31.7% for Mirlande MANIGAT

Flag description

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength); the colors are taken from the French Tricolor and represent the union of blacks and mulattoes

Government type

republic

Independence

1 January 1804 (from France)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation

Legal system

civil law system strongly influenced by Napoleonic Code

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of the Senate (30 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies (99 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - in reestablishing the Senate in 2006, the candidate in each department receiving the most votes in the last election serves six years, the candidate with the second most votes serves four years, and the candidate with the third most votes serves two years elections: Senate - last held on 28 November 2010 with run-off elections scheduled for 16 January 2011 (next regular election, for one third of seats, to be held in 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 28 November 2010 with run-off elections schedule for 16 January 2011 (next regular election to be held in 2014) election results: 2010 election results are not final; 2006 Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - L'ESPWA 11, FUSION 5, OPL 4, FL 3, LAAA 2, UNCRH 2, PONT 2, ALYANS 1; 2006 Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - L'ESPWA 23, FUSION 17, FRN 12, OPL 10, ALYANS 10, LAAA 5, MPH 3, MOCHRENA 3, other 10; results for six other seats contested on 3 December 2006 remain unknown

National anthem

name: "La Dessalinienne" (The Dessalines Song) lyrics/music: Justin LHERISSON/Nicolas GEFFRARD note: adopted 1904; the anthem is named for Jean-Jacques DESSALINES, a leader in the Haitian Revolution and first ruler of an independent Haiti

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

National symbol(s)

Hispaniolan trogon (bird)

Political parties and leaders

Assembly of Progressive National Democrats or RDNP [Mirlande MANIGAT]; Christian and Citizen For Haiti's Reconstruction or ACCRHA [Chavannes JEUNE]; Convention for Democratic Unity or KID [Evans PAUL]; Cooperative Action to Rebuild Haiti or KONBA [Jean William JEANTY]; December 16 Platform or Platfom 16 Desanm [Dr. Gerard BLOT]; Democratic Alliance or ALYANS [Evans PAUL] (coalition composed of KID and PPRH); Effort and Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP [Joseph JASME]; Fanmi Lavalas or FL [Maryse NARCISSE]; For Us All or PONT [Jean-Marie CHERESTAL]; Grouping of Citizens for Hope or RESPE [Charles-Henri BAKER]; Haiti in Action or AAA [Youri LATORTUE]; Haitian Youth Democratic Movement or MODEJHA [Jean Hector ANACACIS]; Haitians for Haiti [Yvon NEPTUNE]; Independent Movement for National Reconstruction or MIRN [Luc FLEURINORD]; Lavni Organization or LAVNI [Yves CRISTALIN]; Liberal Party of Haiti or PLH [Jean Andre VICTOR]; Love Haiti or Renmen Ayiti [Jean-Henry CEANT and Camille LEBLANC]; Merging of Haitian Social Democratics or FUSION [Victor BENOIT] (coalition of Ayiti Capable, Haitian National Revolutionary Party, and National Congress of Democratic Movements); Mobilization for National Development or MDN [Hubert de RONCERAY]; Mobilization for Progress in Haiti or MPH [Samir MOURRA]; National Coalition of Nonaligned Political Parties or CONACED [Osner FEVRY]; National Front for the Reconstruction of Haiti or FRN [Guy PHILIPPE]; New Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU]; Open the Gate Party or PLB [Anes LUBIN]; Peasant's Response or Repons Peyizan [Michel MARTELLY]; Platform Alternative for Progress and Democracy or ALTENATIV [Victor BENOIT and Evans PAUL]; Platform of Haitian Patriots or PLAPH [Dejean BELISAIRE and Himler REBU]; Popular Party for the Renewal of Haiti or PPRH [Claude ROMAIN]; Strength in Unity or Ansanm Nou Fo [Leslie VOLTAIRE]; Struggling People's Organization or OPL [Harry MARSAN]; Union [Chavannes JEUNE]; Union of Haitian Citizens for Democracy, Development, and Education or UCADDE [Jeantel JOSEPH]; Union of Nationalist and Progressive Haitians or UNPH [Edouard FRANCISQUE]; Unity or Inite [Rene PREVAL] (coalition that includes Front for Hope or L'ESPWA); Vigilance or Veye Yo [Lavarice GAUDIN]; Youth for People's Power or JPP [Rene CIVIL]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Autonomous Organizations of Haitian Workers or CATH [Fignole ST-CYR]; Confederation of Haitian Workers or CTH; Economic Forum of the Private Sector or EF [Reginald BOULOS]; Federation of Workers Trade Unions or FOS; General Organization of Independent Haitian Workers [Patrick NUMAS]; Grand-Anse Resistance Committee, or KOREGA; The Haitian Association of Industries or ADIH [Georges SASSINE]; National Popular Assembly or APN; Papaye Peasants Movement or MPP [Chavannes JEAN-BAPTISTE]; Popular Organizations Gathering Power or PROP; Protestant Federation of Haiti; Roman Catholic Church

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The native Taino Amerindians - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when it was discovered by COLUMBUS in 1492 - were virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola. In 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island, which later became Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean but only through the heavy importation of African slaves and considerable environmental degradation. In the late 18th century, Haiti's nearly half million slaves revolted under Toussaint L'OUVERTURE. After a prolonged struggle, Haiti became the first black republic to declare independence in 1804. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. After an armed rebellion led to the forced resignation and exile of President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE in February 2004, an interim government took office to organize new elections under the auspices of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Continued violence and technical delays prompted repeated postponements, but Haiti finally did inaugurate a democratically elected president and parliament in May of 2006. A massive magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010 with an epicenter about 15 km southwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince. An estimated 2 million people lived within the zone of heavy to moderate structural damage. The earthquake was assessed as the worst in this region over the last 200 years and massive international assistance will be required to help the country recover.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,398,804 females age 16-49: 2,415,039 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,666,324 females age 16-49: 1,704,364 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 115,246 female: 115,282 (2010 est.)

Military branches

no regular military forces - small Coast Guard; the regular Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH) - Army, Navy, and Air Force - have been demobilized but still exist on paper until or unless they are constitutionally abolished (2009)

Military expenditures

0.4% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 165

Age structure

0-14 years: 35.9% (male 1,748,677/female 1,742,199) 15-64 years: 60.1% (male 2,898,251/female 2,947,272) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 170,584/female 212,949) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

24.4 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

18.9% (2006) country comparison to the world: 39

Death rate

8.21 deaths/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 94 note: the preliminary 2011 numbers differ significantly from those of 2010, which were strongly influenced by the demographic effect of the January 2010 earthquake; the latest figures more closely correspond to those of 2009 (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 71% of population rural: 55% of population total: 63% of population unimproved: urban: 29% of population rural: 45% of population total: 37% of population (2008)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

black 95%, mulatto and white 5%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.9% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

HIV/AIDS - deaths

7,100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

120,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Health expenditures

6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 105

Hospital bed density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2007) country comparison to the world: 131

Infant mortality rate

total: 54.02 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 42 male: 58.16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 49.83 deaths/1,000 live births note: the preliminary 2011 numbers differ significantly from those of 2010, which were strongly influenced by the demographic effect of the January 2010 earthquake; the latest figures more closely correspond to those of 2009 (2011 est.)

Languages

French (official), Creole (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.17 years country comparison to the world: 181 male: 60.84 years female: 63.53 years note: the preliminary 2011 numbers differ significantly from those of 2010, which were strongly influenced by the demographic effect of the January 2010 earthquake; the latest figures more closely correspond to those of 2009 (2011 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 52.9% male: 54.8% female: 51.2% (2003 est.)

Major cities - population

PORT-AU-PRINCE (capital) 2.143 million (2010)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

300 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 44

Median age

total: 21.4 years male: 21.1 years female: 21.6 years (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Haitian(s) adjective: Haitian

Net migration rate

-8.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Physicians density

0.25 physicians/1,000 population (1998) country comparison to the world: 146

Population

9,719,932 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Population growth rate

0.787% country comparison to the world: 136 note: the preliminary 2011 numbers differ significantly from those of 2010, which were strongly influenced by the demographic effect of the January 2010 earthquake; the latest figures more closely correspond to those of 2009 (2011 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% note: roughly half of the population practices voodoo

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 24% of population rural: 10% of population total: 17% of population unimproved: urban: 76% of population rural: 90% of population total: 83% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

NA

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.011 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.07 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Urbanization

urban population: 52% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 3.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

since 2004, about 8,000 peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) maintain civil order in Haiti; despite efforts to control illegal migration, Haitians cross into the Dominican Republic and sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island

Illicit drugs

Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US and Europe; substantial bulk cash smuggling activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financial transactions; pervasive corruption; significant consumer of cannabis

Airports

14 (2010) country comparison to the world: 149

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Port-au-Prince

Roadways

total: 4,160 km country comparison to the world: 155 paved: 1,011 km unpaved: 3,149 km (2001)